A blog devoted to news in Glendale

CEC 24 is hosting its next meeting on March 27 at PS/IS 119 in Glendale. It will begin at 7 p.m.

The council will hand out Outstanding Staff Member Awards, followed by a presentation on the 2019 School Budget Allocation Formula by District 24 Superintendent Madelene Chan and budget director Yelena Nagdimov.

Maurice Lindsey, the borough safety director, will then discuss school safety and security issues, which are especially important in light of recent events in Parkland, Florida.

That will be followed by a presentation of G&T programs within District 24, including PS/IS 119, PS 153, PS 229, PS 290, PS 330 and IS 73.

Councilman Bob Holden has some thoughts about Intro. 571, a City Council bill prohibiting sexual contact between police or peace officers and people in their custody.

The bill is in response to a horrific alleged rape case in Brooklyn of a woman by police officers who held her in custody.

Holden released the following statement about the bill:

Engaging in such behavior is inappropriate and frankly an abuse of power. It seems like common sense to assume that no officer should partake in an activity, but criminalizing it provides a much-needed level of assurance that this type of behavior will not be tolerated in any capacity.

It’s disgraceful that such measures need to be taken, but as recent events have shown, they are necessary. There is no scenario where any officer should carry on having relations with a person in custody. I am hopeful that the passage of this bill will serve as a successful deterrent against future instances of sexual misconduct.”

The Department of Transportation announced yesterday that it will begin issuing bus lane camera violations along the Q52/Q53 Woodhaven-Cross Bay Boulevard Select Bus Service (SBS) route on Tuesday, February 20.

Each thoroughfare has signage indicating the hours that the bus lanes are in operation, so pay attention to those signs.

Violations are issued against the vehicle, not the driver. Points are not deducted from motorists’ licenses.

What does this mean? The 50-acre reservoir bordering Queens and Brooklyn will receive additional protections.

Built in 1859 to supply water for the city of Brooklyn, the reservoir located today within Highland Park. It became obsolete with the addition of new reservoirs in the Catskills in the 1950s, and was mostly drained by 1989.

The Old Town of Flushing Burial Ground was also added to the national register.

Councilman Bob Holden has some thoughts about the proposed congestion pricing proposal to charge drivers $11.52 and trucks $25.43 for entering Manhattan south of 60th Street.

In a Twitter statement, Holden called the plan “troubling” for someone who represents taxpayers, commuters and business owners who already pay high taxes.

“While reducing traffic and fixing our crumbling transit infrastructure is a significant priority, burdening residents in areas with inadequate bus and subway service is unacceptable,” Holden says. “It’s time to reassess how money is spent by New York State and the MTA, rather than merely adding a tax on the middle class to raise revenues.

Holden then proposed to add an exemption o this plan for those who live in the five boroughs, and instead apply the fee to those living outside the city.

“My office will evaluate the details of the plan and will work to ensure that is does not negatively impact the residents of Glendale, Ridgewood, Maspeth, Middle Village, Woodhaven and Woodside,” he said.

In one of her final acts as councilwoman, Elizabeth Crowley took time to honor a pioneering transit leader.

Julia Roman came to the United States from the Dominican Republic and became a citizen. She joined Nontraditional Employment for Women, an organization that trains and places women in careers like construction, maintenance and utility.

She learned the electrical trade and joined the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union 3, and eventually got a job as an elevator mechanic.

She left to join New York City Transit, where she was the first woman shop steward for Transport Works Union (TWU) Local 100.

On November 16, 2017, Roman gave birth to twins, but died soon thereafter due to complications. She is survived by her husband victory and children Valerie, Dwayne, Victoria, Isabella and Grace.

To honor her legacy, Crowley introduced Local Law 55, which requires the Department of Health to report annually on maternal mortality.

“Julia’s death is a painful reminder that maternal mortality still happens in the 21st century, Crowley said. “We are highlighting the fact that despite all of the modern medicine available and medical advancements, more women in the U.S. are dying of pregnancy-related complications than any other developed country.”

In what most said might have been the smallest …. and shortest…..of Mayor de Blasio’s recent Town Hall meetings, the mayor came to Glendale last night (PS 113) and hit a few ‘hot buttons’ after being asked some direct questions.

When asked about the Glendale Homeless Shelter proposed for the property on Cooper Avenue at 79th Place, he said we are going to start discussions about that again. He also defended what most of us see as the disastrous ‘Select Bus Service’ lane on Woodhaven Blvd.

Mayor de Blasio has a difficult time winning over Glendale crowd at Town Hall Meeting on Monday December 18 at PS 113

He left the meeting at 9 tonight – instead of his usual 3-hour meeting. But then again, he didn’t do so well in the ballot here either, compared to other places around the city, where he won convincingly.

Today thru December 24th have your children take their annual photo with Santa Claus at Atlas Park! All children will receive a free gift. Santa will be available for photos and visits at his winter home, located next to TJ Maxx and 5 Below. Visit Santa on Mondays from 10am to 9pm (Break: 3-4pm) and Tuesday through Sunday from 10am to 8pm (Break 3-4pm). Reservations are available but not required.